Overview

Dear Reader,

One thing about Cedar Cove—people sure are interested in what other people are doing. Take me, for instance. Everybody in this town knows that my husband, Zach, and I recently got a divorce. Everybody also knows that Judge Olivia Lockhart decreed a pretty unusual custody arrangement. It won't be the kids moving between my place and Zach's. We're the ones who'll be going back and forth!

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

More About
This Book

Overview

Dear Reader,

One thing about Cedar Cove—people sure are interested in what other people are doing. Take me, for instance. Everybody in this town knows that my husband, Zach, and I recently got a divorce. Everybody also knows that Judge Olivia Lockhart decreed a pretty unusual custody arrangement. It won't be the kids moving between my place and Zach's. We're the ones who'll be going back and forth!

Olivia isn't immune to gossip herself. Will she stay with Jack, the guy who runs our local paper, or will she get back with her ex? Inquiring minds want to know!

But the really big gossip has to do with the dead guy—the man who died at a local bed-and-breakfast. Who is he and why did he show up there in the middle of the night? Roy McAfee, our local private investigator, is absolutely determined to find out. I hope he does—and then I'll fill you in! See you soon….

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

Rosie Cox
311 Pelican Court
Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Reader,

One ting about Cedar Cove — people sure are interested in what other people are doing. Take me, for instance. Everybody in the town knows that my husband, Zach, and I recently got a divorce. Everybody also know that Judge Olivia Lockhard decreed a pretty unusual custody arrangement. It won't be the kids moving between my place and Zach's. We're the ones who'll be going back and forth!

Olivia isn't immune to gossip herself. Will she stay with Jack, the guy who runs our local paper, or will she get back with her ex? Inquiring minds want to know!

But the really big gossip has to do with the dead guy — the man who died at a local bed-and-breakfast. Who is he and why did he show up there in the middle of the night? Roy McAfee, our local private investigator, is absolutely determined to find out. I hope he does — and then I'll let you know! See you soon. . .

Meet the Author

More by this Author

Debbie Macomber is a number one New York Times and USA TODAY-bestselling author. Her books include 1225 Christmas Tree Lane, 1105 Yakima Street, A Turn in the Road, Hannah’s List and Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Cookbook, as well as Twenty Wishes, Summer on Blossom Street and Call Me Mrs. Miracle. She has become a leading voice in women’s fiction worldwide and her work has appeared on every major bestseller list, including those of the New York Times, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and Entertainment Weekly. She is a multiple award winner, and won the 2005 Quill Award for Romance Fiction. There are more than 100 million copies of her books in print. Two of her Harlequin MIRA Christmas titles have been made into Hallmark Channel Original Movies, and the Hallmark Channel is launching a series based on her bestselling Cedar Cove novels.

Biography

Publishing did not come easy to self-described "creative speller" Debbie Macomber. When Macomber decided to follow her dreams of becoming a bestselling novelist, she had a lot of obstacles in her path. For starters, Macomber is dyslexic. On top of this, she had only a high school degree, four young children at home, and absolutely no connections in the publishing world. If there's one thing you can say about Debbie Macomber, however, it is that she does not give up. She rented a typewriter and started writing, determined to break into the world of romance fiction.

The years went on and the rejection letters piled up. Her family was living on a shoestring budget, and Debbie was beginning to think that her dreams of being a novelist might never be fulfilled. She began writing for magazines to earn some extra money, and she eventually saved up enough to attend a romance writer's conference with three hundred other aspiring novelists. The organizers of the conference picked ten manuscripts to review in a group critique session. Debbie was thrilled to learn that her manuscript would be one of the novels discussed.

Her excitement quickly faded when an editor from Harlequin tore her manuscript to pieces in front of the crowded room, evoking peals of laughter from the assembled writers. Afterwards, Macomber approached the editor and asked her what she could do to improve her novel. "Throw it away," the editor suggested.

Many writers would have given up right then and there, but not Macomber. The deeply religious Macomber took a lesson from Job and gathered strength from adversity. She returned home and mailed one last manuscript to Silhouette, a publisher of romance novels. "It cost $10 to mail it off," Macomber told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2000. "My husband was out of work at this time, in Alaska, trying to find a job. The children and I were living on his $250-a-week unemployment, and I can't tell you what $10 was to us at that time."

It turned out to be the best $10 Macomber ever spent. In 1984, Silhouette published her novel, Heartsong. (Incidentally, although Heartsong was Macomber's first sale, she actually published another book, Starlight, before Heartsong went to print.) Heartsong went on to become the first romance novel to ever be reviewed in Publishers Weekly, and Macomber was finally on her way.

Today, Macomber is one of the most widely read authors in America. A regular on the New York Times bestseller charts, she is best known for her Cedar Cove novels, a heartwarming story sequence set in a small town in Washington state, and for her Knitting Books series, featuring a group of women who patronize a Seattle yarn store. In addition, her backlist of early romances, including several contemporary Westerns, has been reissued with great success.

Macomber has made a successful transition from conventional romance to the somewhat more flexible genre known as "women's fiction." "I was at a point in my life where I found it difficult to identify with a 25-year-old heroine," Macomber said in an interview with ContemporaryRomanceWriters.com. "I found that I wanted to write more about the friendships women share with each other." To judge from her avid, ever-increasing fan base, Debbie's readers heartily approve.

Good To Know

Some outtakes from our interview with Macomber:

"I'm dyslexic, although they didn't have a word for it when I was in grade school. The teachers said I had 'word blindness.' I've always been a creative speller and never achieved good grades in school. I graduated from high school but didn't have the opportunity to attend college, so I did what young women my age did at the time -- I married. I was a teenager, and Wayne and I (now married nearly 37 years) had four children in five years."

"I'm a yarnaholic. That means I have more yarn stashed away than any one person could possibly use in three or four lifetimes. There's something inspiring about yarn that makes me feel I could never have enough. Often I'll go into my yarn room (yes, room!) and just hold skeins of yarn and dream about projects. It's a comforting thing to do."

"I'm morning person, and rip into the day with a half-mile swim (FYI: a half mile is a whole lot farther in the water than it is on land) at the local pool before I head into the office, arriving before eight. It takes me until nine or ten to read through all of the guest book entries from my web site and the mail before I go upstairs to the turret where I do my writing. Yes, I write in a turret -- is that romantic, or what? I started blogging last September and really enjoy sharing bits and pieces of my life with my readers. Once I'm home for the day, I cook dinner, trying out new recipes. Along with cooking, I also enjoy eating, especially when the meal is accompanied by a glass of good wine. Wayne and I take particular pleasure in sampling eastern Washington State wines (since we were both born and raised in that part of the state).

Read an Excerpt

311 Pelican Court

Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd.

Chapter One

From the moment Rosie Cox entered Cedar Cove's divorce court, she'd felt a renewed sense of failure - not to mention
betrayal. Who wouldn't feel that way? After seventeen years of what she'd believed to be a reasonably good
marriage, Zach's infidelity was the last thing she'd expected.

He'd never openly admitted to the affair. She hadn't found her husband in a compromising situation, hadn't found any
concrete evidence - no matchbooks from expensive restaurants, no jewelry receipts or motel bills - but in her heart
she knew. A wife always does.

Rosie owned up to the truth - she was angry and she'd expressed that anger by making this divorce as complicated and
difficult as she possibly could. Why should she go easy on Zach or walk away from their marriage without one hell of a
fight? And fight she had, with both fists raised.

As she turned away from the judge, the final decree in her hand, she realized she'd made another mistake.

Rosie had assumed that once the divorce was granted, the anger and bitterness of these dreadful months would be
lifted. Wrong again. An even heavier burden had been added. When the joint custody agreement she and Zach had so
carefully worked out, point by point, was presented to Judge Olivia Lockhart, the judge had rejected it.

Instead, Judge Lockhart had stated that it was emotionally detrimental to kids to shuffle them between residences every
few days. Allison and Eddie needed stable lives, according to Judge Lockhart, and they hadn't asked for the
divorce. Some people considered the judge innovative, Rosie thought, disgruntled. How about interfering? Or out of her
mind? Because - of all the crazy settlements - she'd awarded the children their house. That meant Rosie and Zach
would be the ones moving in and out.

Talk about ridiculous! Talk about impossible.

Now that the divorce was final, Rosie and Zach would have to figure out some kind of living arrangements. The
ramifications of what they'd agreed to were starting to hit Rosie and she hadn't even left the courtroom.

"Rosie," Sharon Castor, her attorney, said as soon as they were in the silent hallway outside the courtroom. "We have
to meet with your ex-husband."

One look told Rosie that Sharon was as flustered as she was herself.

Otto Benson, Zach's lawyer, joined them. Although he remained outwardly calm, his face was tense. She dared not glance
in Zach's direction. In fact, she'd avoided looking at her ex-husband from the moment she'd walked into the courtroom.

"Let's get a conference room and discuss the details," Zach's attorney said.

Rosie peered at Zach, standing behind his lawyer. He didn't seem any happier than she was with this decision, but she'd
keel over in a dead faint before she let him know how she felt.

"Rosie and I should be able to work this out ourselves," Zach said with an edge of irritation.

Given the way everything had gone so far, that suggestion wasn't promising. "If you remember, it took us weeks of
haggling to come up with this joint custody agreement," she pointed out. She enjoyed reminding him what a jerk he'd
been. Rosie supposed Zach was hoping to avoid more attorneys' fees. Too bad. If he ended up with less money to spend on
his girlfriend, that wasn't her concern.

Fists clenched, Zach snarled something under his breath. Probably just as well she couldn't hear it, Rosie decided,
proud of her own display of self-control.

"What makes you think we're capable of agreeing to anything without a mediator?" she asked sarcastically.

"Fine," Zach muttered, with a pout reminiscent of their nine-year-old son. Staring at him now, Rosie had trouble
believing she'd ever loved Zachary Cox. Not only was he smug and argumentative and self-righteous, he had no idea what
it meant to be a husband and father. Granted, Zach was a handsome man; not only that, his appearance proclaimed his
success as a businessman, a professional. Although, in her opinion, anyone with half a brain would instantly peg him
for an accountant. He had that narrowed look about his dark eyes, as if he spent too many hours a day squinting at
columns of tiny numbers. Despite that, he was appealing to the eye with his broad shoulders - which nicely set off his
expensive suit - and thick, dark hair. At one time he'd been an athlete, and even now he routinely jogged and kept in
shape.

Rosie had loved the firmness of his muscles as she stroked his back during lovemaking. Of course, it'd been months
since they'd slept in the same bed, and much longer since they'd actually made love.

Rosie didn't even remember the last time. Had she known, she might have appreciated it more, lingered a moment longer
at her husband's side, savored the feel of his arms around her. One thing was certain: Zach hadn't been interested in
her from the day he'd hired Janice Lamond as his personal assistant.

The thought of him entwined with Janice nearly suffocated Rosie and she forcefully shoved the image from her mind.
Anger and revulsion at her husband's - no, ex-husband's - unfaithfulness rose like bile in the back of her throat.

Zach's raised voice caught her attention; apparently he'd agreed to have their attorneys negotiate this added
complication to their divorce decree. Otto was checking with the clerk for an empty conference room.

Once a private room in the law library was secured, Zach and his attorney sat at one side of the table, across from
Rosie and hers.

Even the attorneys seemed perplexed by the situation. "I can't say I've ever heard of such a decree before," Sharon
said, starting the conversation.

"Me, neither." Otto frowned. "This is one for the books."

"Fine," Zach said in a curt voice, "it's unusual, but we're both adults. We can figure this out. I know I was
sincere about putting the children first." He glared at Rosie, as if to suggest she hadn't been.

"If you were sincere, you would've had second thoughts about sleeping with that slut." Rosie hadn't intended to be
argumentative, but if her ex-husband was so concerned about their children's welfare, he would never have broken his
wedding vows.

"I refuse to dignify that remark by responding to it," Zach said through gritted teeth. "Besides if you were home more,
instead of volunteering for every cause known to mankind, every cause except your children, you'd - "

"Well, I refuse to allow you to blame me for what you've done." Her volunteer efforts were Zach's big
complaint. He had his wish; she'd had to resign from every position she held and seek paid employment. She hoped he was
happy. For the first time since their children were born, Rosie wasn't a stay-at-home mom.

"I thought we were here to discuss this divorce decree?" Zach asked with a bored look, an expression that was obviously
for her benefit. "If we're going to trade insults I'd rather not pay our attorneys to listen."

Your Rating:

Your Recommendations:

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked,
or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to
Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original
and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you
and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not
violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help
ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer.
However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or
to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the
information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reminder:

- By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its
sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the
review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.

- Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly
those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com
also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.

Welcome to Cedar Cove!

I've really enjoyed this series that author Debbie Macomber has written. The characters are warm and engaging and the reader cannot help but to wonder what will happen next in Cedar Cove. Although this is classified as a romance novel, there's a bit of a mystery as well.

The mystery begins when Dan Sherman, Grace's husband, leaves his family. Later his body is found next to a suicide note. In the note, Dan informs Grace about an incident that happened during Vietnam. This incident has haunted him his entire life. Later we learn a stranger is found dead at Thyme and Tide Bed and Breakfast. Is his death somehow related to Dan?

Each book in this series, flows elegantly into the next one. Though the families live separate lives, the series has a small town appeal and everyone knows (and cares) for each other. If you are in search of a good series with likable characters, I'd suggest you start with book one 16 Lighthouse Road. Soon you too will get caught up in the happenings of Cedar Cove, WA.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

I love reading these books and this one did not disappoint. The

I love reading these books and this one did not disappoint. The Cox family has gotten a divorce which should have made life easier for Rosie and Zach Cox what they didn't count on was for Judge Olivia Lockhart decide that the kids get the house and the parents would alternate living there. Zach and Rosie have a lot to work on to find out where their marriage failed. Which they were able to accomplish. Olivia is dealing with two men who both want her and having to decide who she wants to be with. Then there is Grace who after dealing with her husband Dan's suicide. Grace makes a mess of the relationships she has with Olivia's brother Will and Cliff who had nothing but a great liking for her. And Will who's married and looking for a cheap fling. Luckily Grace gets out of the situation with Will before damage can be done. Cliff on the other hand knows she was cheating and left her having gone through a horrible marriage full of cheating by his wife at the time. Then there is Charlotte who is getting friendly with Ben Rhodes a newcomer to Cedar Cove and their general interest in getting a clinic in Cedar Cove for those who can't afford to go to doctors or are on welfare. Grace's daughter Maryellen has had her baby Katie and Jon is very much a part of Katie's life. And after alot of stop and starts in their relationship Jon and Maryellen have finally gotten their relationship together and are heading towards marriage. Of course there is still the mystery of the dead guy in the Bed and Breakfast. Just who is he and why is he dead?

I love going to Cedar Cove and seeing what everyone is up too. It's like checking in with old friends and seeing how everyone is fairing. The romance is great seeing people getting together and watching their romance bloom!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

trueBelieverMK

Posted December 28, 2012

very highly recommended

Any and every book by Debbie Macomber is well woth reading. She had
millions printed and there is only one that I didn't care for because she tended to write it like a modern sexy novel which isn't her style.
I have bought nearly every one that Barnes and Nobel have available.
They are just GREAT!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

CPK37

Posted October 5, 2012

Love her books

Once again, Debbie has such interesting characters and a wonderful way of weaving their lives together.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

LucyBH

Posted June 13, 2012

Read from June 04 to 10, 2012
I really enjoying the Cedar Cove

Read from June 04 to 10, 2012

I really enjoying the Cedar Cove series. I love the aboundance of warm down to earth characters that make similar mistakes that you &amp; I would make. THe uncertainties, hopes and desires that characters go thru in this series hits very close to home.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted February 8, 2012

Great Series

This is an incredible series of books. As soon as I finished one I had to go online and buy the next one for my nook. I highly recommend this entire series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

stenberg

Posted January 1, 2012

Highly Recommended

I have to say once I started to read it I couldn't wait to get back to it and find out what was happing.Just would have to liked it to be a little longer still wondering what happend to a few people and if they got together or not.But very good maybe there will be a sequale to it thanks very well put together.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

nana2747

Posted December 7, 2011

great series

I recommend starting with #l in the series and going all the way. This is just good and relaxing reading. A little who done it but mostly a good story. I love the way she works the characters from the first book through out the rest. I am up to the fifth book in the series and haven't been disappointed yet. Since one book leads to the next starting with #l is the only way to go. Enjoy!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

I enjoyed it completely

She keeps you interested in the neighbors and has you routing for the underdog.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Bookacholic

Posted October 28, 2011

Do Start to read this Series!

This is book three in the Cedar Cove Series. I really love her books. I am now on book number 8 in this series. If you read book one, I guarantee that you will be hooked. I can't get enough of the characters, and I will be sad when I finish the last one. I hope that maybe the author will continue on with more with these characters.
A truly enjoyable series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

311 Pelican Court

This book continues the Cedar Cove series with a wonderful story about current residents Zach & Rosie Cox, their marriage troubles, and how they succeed in a rather odd fashion to repair the "wounds" they have given to each other. Best friends Olivia and Grace both find themselves in a love triangle. Maryellen slowly starts to realize how much she needs Jon in her and her daughter's life. The death of a mysterious man in a local bed and breakfast is never completely resolved and it leaves some unfinished business to be tackled in book #4 of the series. This is a delightful book, and the series just seems to get better with each addition.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted May 17, 2010

Very Quaint, very touching

I love Ms. Macombre's writing style. I listen to audio books in the car to and from work, etc. This is such good soothing reading, I absolutely cannot wait to get in my car and drive.. and I love the way the series talks to you and the stories blend... perfect chic book...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted May 4, 2009

True Macomber

Every one of Debbie's books I've read so far have been good. Down home American themes, love it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Grandmaof5andahalf

Posted February 9, 2009

Delightful reading!!

I so love Debbie Macomber books, especially this Cedar Cove series. You won't go wrong reading these. She has characters who are accountable for their actions and when they realize they are wrong are able to change and make their lives better. Wrong is called wrong and right, right - how refreshing. They have happy endings. There is a little redundancy now and again that is somewhat tedious, but I still give this a 5 star!! I recommend all of her books.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Excellent storytelling

In Cedar Cove, Judge Olivia Lockhart informs the divorced couple, schoolteacher Rosie and accountant Zach Cox, that instead of their fifteen year old daughter and their nine year old son shuffling back and forth between them in joint custody, the parents will. In other words the kids keep the house and a parent will reside in Zach¿s apartment when he or she is not with the children. The Judge¿s former husband Stanley keeps visiting from Seattle hoping to reconcile with her as his second marriage ends. The Judge would like her former beau Cedar Cove Chronicle Editor Jack Griffin to show gumption and make a commitment to her.<P> Olivia¿s best friend librarian Grace Sherman suffers from depression while still grieving the suicide of her husband Dan. Their Maryellen is pregnant, but refuses to allow the father Jon Bowman access before during and after she gives birth.<P> Finally, at the Thyme and Tide bed and breakfast, a guest is dead. The owners Bob and Peggy Beldon are shocked, but more so he because the deceased looks hauntingly familiar from his Nam days that he shared with Dan.<P> 311 PELICAN COURT, the sequel to 16 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD, is an interesting slice of life tale that reads more like a series of rotating vignettes than a novel. Each story line representing a slice is well written and brings insight into the key character(s) as well as the small town. The prime protagonists are fully developed and remain consistent with the prequel so those fans of the previous novel, Debbie Macomber, or just a deep contemporary drama will value the return to Cedar Cove.,P> Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted January 2, 2015

I enjoy reading what Debbie writes. It gives the true image of

I enjoy reading what Debbie writes. It gives the true image of what happens in everyday life for people, especially married couples and parents with children.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

PureJonel

Posted December 5, 2014

Welcome back to Cedar Cove, the town that will steal your heart

Welcome back to Cedar Cove, the town that will steal your heart &amp; leave you believing in happy endings, even if there are some bumps along the road. I really appreciate how realistic this story is. Macomber never rushes her characters, but rather allows relationships to build slowly, continuing on throughout the series. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I found it harder to get into than the first 2 novels in the series. Once I was immersed in the story I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I really enjoy how much more in depth we’re getting into the various characters’ stories at this point in the series. The intricately intertwining stories are absolutely phenomenal. I still find Rosie to be an over the top character at the beginning. For someone with a family to raise she’s excessively self-absorbed and refuses to listen or take any blame on herself. She does grow on me throughout the novel, and I didn’t dislike her by the ending. The change was gradual and definitely realistic. Because of the intertwining stories and the number of major characters, even if you don’t like one it’s still very easy to love the story as a whole.

This was definitely a warm and inviting return to Cedar Cove, the town where I may just move in the future. I love the world that Macomber builds and allows her readers to explore. My parting thoughts with this one? Oh Charlotte… What did you get yourself into this time?

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted March 12, 2014

Bree

"Sorry." She disappeared.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted March 12, 2014

Sam

Runs to her house

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

Anonymous

Posted March 12, 2014

Amanda

*frowns and and cross her arms as tears continue to pour from her eyes* You should.

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.